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joec32033
Posts: 30632
Alba Posts: 37
Joined: 2/3/2004
Member: #583
USA
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Posted by nixluva:
The only thing is that LB wasn't that warm and cuddly grandpa, more like the drunk old uncle that kept accidently burning you with his cigarettes and scratching you with his unshaven face hairs. You want to love him but he's just so messed up. It's easy for Isiah to get the troops to say hey that guy thinks you're loser's and should just be tossed out with the trash. The Knicks players have so much dislike for LB that it just might add a little something to their effort level.
I also wouldn't be too sure that Isiah isn't looking to have this team pick up it's defensive intensity. Isiah has always believed in Defense, but he likes the offensive side of the ball better. He's not the only Coach like that. Whether or not he can get this team to win like that is what we'll have to find out, but I think it's unfair to think he's not gonna have this team playing harder on D. I really think you should actually do the research as to what you are disagreeing with instead of letting your personal feeling about LB cloud the reality of the situation- Relationship with Larry Brown
For most of the early portion of Iverson's career, his head coach with the Sixers was Larry Brown. Iverson often praised Brown, saying that he would not have achieved so much in the sport without Brown's guidance. Iverson had a love-hate relationship with Brown; however, and the two frequently clashed, most famously after the 76ers were defeated in the first round of the 2002 NBA Playoffs. Brown criticized Iverson for missing team practices and Iverson defended himself with what would become a famous and oft-quoted monologue which some observers felt indicated a lack of appreciation by Iverson for the importance of practice.
I'm supposed to be the franchise player, and we're in here talking about practice. I mean listen, we're talking about practice. Not a game . . . We're talking about practice. Not a game . . . that I go out there and die for, and play every game like it's my last. Not the game. We're talking about practice, man. I mean, how silly is that? We're talking about practice. I know I'm supposed to be there. I know I'm supposed to lead by example . . . I know it's important . . . I honestly do. But we're talking about practice, man. What are we talking about? Practice? We're talking about practice, man . . . We're talking about practice. We're talking about practice. We ain't talking about the game, we're talking about practice, man. When you come into the arena, and you see me play . . . you see me give everything I got, right? But we're talking about practice right now. We're talking about practice . . . We're not even talking about the game, the actual game, when it matters. We're talking about practice.
— Allen Iverson at a press conference on May 8, 2002
He said "practice" more times than he's actually practiced.
— Larry Brown speaking to reporters the next day
Nonetheless, when Brown left the 76ers in 2003, both he and Iverson indicated that the two were on good terms and genuinely fond of one another. Iverson later reunited with Brown when Iverson became a member and co-captain of the 2004 United States Olympic men's basketball team.
In 2005, on Stephen A. Smith's ESPN talkshow Quite Frankly, Iverson was asked to outline his problems with Brown. Iverson declared that he was privileged and honored to have had Brown as his coach, without any qualms, reservations or criticism; he described Brown as an overwhelmingly positive influence on his basketall career and in his personal life. Smith then played a clip of Brown describing "The Answer" as an ideal role-model for American children, and Iverson wepthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Iverson#Relationship_with_Larry_Brown AUBURN HILLS, Mich., June 15 -- Larry Brown had accomplished almost everything anyone can accomplish in the game of basketball.
Almost.
His résumé is as deep as the Pistons' bench. Yet, even after winning an Olympic gold medal in 1964, winning an ABA title as a member of the Oakland Oaks in 1969, leading the University of Kansas to an NCAA title in 1988 and entering the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002, people scanned Brown's extensive dossier and noted that it had a hole in it.
A huge hole.
In 22 years as an NBA coach, Brown's been the consummate teacher. Even Rasheed Wallace calls Brown "Pound-for-Pound" as in the best coach pound-for-pound. But Brown, who had made six previous stops in the NBA before landing in Detroit this season, has never placed an NBA championship ring on his finger.
Until tonight.
Brown added the crown jewel to his considerable collection when his Detroit Pistons trounced the Los Angeles Lakers 100-87 in Game 5 of The Finals for his historic first NBA title.
Larry Brown, NBA champion. Has a nice ring to it.
"I haven't been through 48 minutes like that," Brown said of his first taste of an NBA title. "You know, I've always enjoyed the moment. The bigger the game, the more I enjoyed it, but the way this group came together, you know, with Rasheed [Wallace] coming late and losing quality people, this was a strange night. I had no idea what it would feel like. "
By winning the NBA title, Brown becomes the only head coach to win an NCAA title and NBA title. At age 62, Brown is the oldest coach to win an NBA title. Brown also took longer than any coach in NBA history, 22 years, to capture a crown, easily outpacing Red Auerbach (1957) and Bill Fitch (1981).
Brown also became the ninth coach in NBA history to win a title in his first year with a team. The last to do so was the man and team Brown helped defeat tonight, Phil Jackson, who did it with the Lakers in 2000. The win tonight also moved Brown into second place behind Jackson for most playoff wins for a coach, with 85.
"I haven't in my life had disappointments too many times coaching this game," Brown said. "I told them, you know, before the game, it would be a great statement if we had an opportunity to win because we do play the right way, and we are truly a team."
All season long, Brown preached about playing "the right way": defense, hustle and teamwork. For the Pistons and Brown, it all paid off.
So, Brown's résumé , already full, is complete. Of course, winning one only whets the appetite and begs the question: Can you do it again?
But before that can happen, Brown could add another impressive first this summer when he will coach the Men's U.S. Olympic basketball team in Athens. He could become the first man to win an Olympic gold medal as a player and as a coach.
That would cap quite a year and quite a resume. Brown said he'll need time to let it all sink in.
"I remember Chuck Daly told me something one day," Brown said of the other Pistons coach to win an NBA title, "that when you finally do win one, you won't appreciate it until you're driving down the highway one day and you'll get a big grin on your face.
"I had that feeling when I coached Kansas later on. I'm sure I'm going to have it now. "
http://www.nba.com/finals2004/brown_040616.html Billups doesn't know what reaction the fans will give Brown tonight, but he hopes they all do what he's going to do -- cheer the man.
"Look what he did for this city and this franchise," Billups said. "He brought a championship here, and we had a chance to win another last year. He deserves to be cheered."
Brown, whose rebuilding Knicks team is struggling to find its footing, has been thrilled with the Pistons' 11-2 start under new coach Flip Saunders.
"No matter what, I had two of the greatest years I've ever had there," Brown said. "I love that group of players. I am proud of what they did when I was there, and I am proud of what they are doing now. … I love that team. Why should I be disappointed that they are 11-2? They gave me everything they could for two years. I am proud of Flip. He was fired last year, and now he is showing everybody what a great coach he is."
Brown has heard the comments made by Billups and others that under Saunders, they have more freedom on offense than they were under Brown.
"I would say Chauncey is probably right," Brown said. "They are playing better than any other team in the league. If their scoring is up and all the things he's saying are there, then it's true. But look back, when I replaced Rick Carlisle, he was successful and I changed some things because I coach differently than Rick.
"Now you have Flip in there and he coaches differently than me, so he's changed some things. Chauncey Billups did everything I asked him to do, and we won a title and had a chance to win another. I am confident that Chauncey is now doing everything Flip is asking him to do and he's having success."http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051202/SPORTS0102/512020363/1004/SPORTS
Billups has gotten his best shot, thanks to Brown
By Roscoe Nance, USA TODAY
SAN ANTONIO — The game was on the line and the Detroit Pistons needed to make a play. In that situation, there's only one player they wanted to have the ball. That would be Chauncey Billups, their unflappable point guard who thrives in pressure situations.
"We put a lot of confidence in Chauncey," Pistons All-Star center Ben Wallace says. "Chauncey has a lot riding on his shoulders. Everybody on this team believes in what he can do. Everybody thinks he's going to make the right play. When he's got the ball in his hands, that's when we're at our best."
Billups, the MVP of last year's NBA Finals, was again superb in the championship series, though the Pistons fell 81-74 to the Spurs in Game 7.
Though he scored 13 points Thursday, he averaged 20.4 in the series and was the series leader in assists (6.3). In Game 5, he scored a series-high 34 points, 23 in the second half.
Billups' clutch shooting has earned him the nickname "Mr. Big Shot." But "Smooth," the moniker he picked up while growing up in Denver, is equally appropriate.
Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars, the 1989 Finals MVP, says that is the key to Billups' success.
"He does a pretty good job of not getting rattled," Dumars says. "That's a big thing. If you can just keep your composure in big games, you've got a chance. I talk to Chauncey about giving yourself a chance to be great. The only way you can do that is to keep your head in the game, stay focus, stay composed, look for your shot. ... He gives himself a chance to be great night in and night out."
Billups was the third player selected in the 1997 draft. He has bounced around the league during his eight-year career, having been with five teams before signing with the Pistons as a free agent three years ago. He gives coach Larry Brown much of the credit for the way his game has flourished. Billups came into the league with a scorer's mentality. Under Brown's tutelage, he plays more of a traditional point guard's game, looking to get his teammates involved first and then looking for his shot.
"I've learned so much from him about this game, about my game," Billups says. "It's priceless, really."
Brown has a reputation for being tough on point guards, having played that position. When he talks about Billups' development, there's pride in his voice. "He's done a remarkable job under difficult circumstances dealing with me," Brown says. "Anybody that's played for me (knows) I've put a lot of responsibility on the point guard. He's sacrificed as much as anybody I've ever coached for the benefit of the team."
The relationship between Billups and Brown had rocky moments in its early stages as they got to know each other. Game 7 of the Finals may well have been their last together. Brown might not return as coach of the Pistons next season because of health reasons. He is scheduled to go to Mayo Clinic after the NBA draft next week.
"I don't know anybody that loves the game like he does and cares about the integrity of the game like he does," Billups says. "I don't think he wants the game to change from when he played it. I don't anticipate it being over for him. But if it is, it's going to be a dark day in the NBA." http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/pistons/2005-06-24-billups-series_x.htm [Edited by - joec32033 on 10-09-2006 09:38 AM]~You can't run from who you are.~
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